Hardly any U.S. towns see fresher July days than Grand Marais
The coldest hours of a January night bottom out at 11° on average. In January, nights here are colder than in 93% of U.S. towns. February has warmed most since 1901–2000, part of a 1.5° rise. The frost-free window for a garden runs roughly May 27 to October 10.
A year in Grand Marais at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Grand Marais’ climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Grand Marais’ place in Michigan beside it.
What a year in Grand Marais feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 138 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 27 and the first by October 10. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Grand Marais 2 E, MI, 1.0 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height.
The 2023 USDA map puts Grand Marais’ center in zone 5b: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about −13°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
About 34 inches of rain a year
October is the wettest month and March the driest.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Heating and cooling a home in Grand Marais
97% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner. Months averaging under 55° run from October through May.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Grand Marais 2 E, MI.
Living with Grand Marais’ climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
138 frost-free days in zone 5b. The last frost comes by May 27 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Oct 10.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: June, July, August and September. 1.0 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Grand Marais and similar climates
TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Grand Marais yet.
Temperatures and precipitation come from NOAA’s 5 km grid; snow and day counts from the stations named on this page.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Grand Marais averaged 1.5° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in February (+2.4°).
A bigger shift than in 57% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
The two periods overlap (1991–2000 is in both), which makes the gap a little smaller than it would be between separate periods.
How Grand Marais compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Grand Marais’ place among Michigan’s.
Grand Marais weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Grand Marais’ center. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23° | 11° | 2.5" | 6° – 25° |
| February | 25° | 10° | 1.8" | 2° – 29° |
| March | 34° | 17° | 1.7" | 13° – 37° |
| April | 45° | 28° | 2.0" | 29° – 44° |
| May | 58° | 38° | 2.9" | 42° – 53° |
| June | 68° | 48° | 3.1" | 54° – 63° |
| July | 72° | 54° | 3.5" | 56° – 68° |
| August | 72° | 55° | 2.8" | 59° – 68° |
| September | 65° | 49° | 3.9" | 51° – 62° |
| October | 52° | 38° | 4.1" | 39° – 51° |
| November | 39° | 27° | 2.9" | 26° – 40° |
| December | 28° | 18° | 2.6" | 13° – 32° |
| Year | 48° | 33° | 33.7" |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 2° to 29°. August is the most reliable, staying within 9°.
Where Grand Marais’ numbers come from
Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. How TownRatings reads climate data →
- Temperatures and precipitation: NOAA’s gridded 1991–2020 normals for the 5 km cell at Grand Marais’ center.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Grand Marais 2 E, MI, 1.0 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height; the nearest station that passes our checks for distance, height and agreement with the grid.
- Growing zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu/phzm, accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Then and now: NOAA’s gridded normals for 1901–2000 at the same cell.
- Storms and extremes: FEMA National Risk Index (expected annual losses to buildings).
Common questions about Grand Marais’ climate
What is the weather like in Grand Marais?
A typical July afternoon reaches 72°, a January night drops to 11°. Colder January nights than 93% of U.S. towns; cooler July afternoons than all but 116 U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Grand Marais in winter?
February nights average 10°. About 191 nights a year reach 32° or below and 13 reach 0° or below. In the coldest February of the last 30 years the month averaged 2°.
How hot does it get in Grand Marais?
July, with a typical high of 72° and a low of 54°. About 5 days a year reach 90° (Grand Marais 2 E, MI).
When is the first and last frost in Grand Marais?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by May 27 and the first fall frost by October 10, about 138 frost-free days, at Grand Marais 2 E, MI.
What growing zone is Grand Marais in?
Zone 5b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about −13°.
What is the best time of year to visit Grand Marais?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), June, July, August and September. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Grand Marais getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.5° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A bigger shift than 57% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Grand Marais.
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000; USDA/PRISM 2023 hardiness zones; FEMA National Risk Index. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.